Officials: Transgender girl moved to male facility

HARTFORD, Conn. — A transgender girl has been moved to Connecticut’s juvenile home for boys after she was accused of assault, the latest transfer of a troubled teenager who was sent to a psychiatric facility after supporters protested her confinement in a women’s prison without criminal charges.

The Department of Children and Families said Sunday that the girl, identified only as Jane Doe, assaulted another youth and a staff member and destroyed property at the psychiatric center on Saturday night.

Officials said there is no “suitable place” for the girl at the Children’s Psychiatric Center in Middletown and moved her to the nearby Juvenile Training School, Connecticut’s only secure facility for delinquent boys. She is in a single room separated from the other residents.

“State police have been notified and we are confident they will take whatever action they deem is appropriate,” DCF said.

Her lawyer, Aaron Romano, criticized the agency and Commissioner Joette Katz for issuing a news release rather than notifying him or other lawyers representing the youngster.

“I am shocked and disappointed at the commissioner,” he said. “I question whether the commissioner should continue to be in her position if she believes in this litigation in the press.”

Gary Kleeblatt, a spokesman for the agency, did not return a call seeking comment. Details of the alleged assault were not immediately released, nor did the agency specify why it chose to move the girl to an all-male facility. Romano accused DCF of breaking promises to get therapy for his client and seek foster care.

“Nothing has materialized,” he said.

The girl had been detained in the Connecticut adult women’s prison without criminal charges and was moved last month to the psychiatric center.

She had been in DCF custody before being sent to jail. DCF officials said she was too violent for them to handle and asked a state judge to transfer her into Department of Correction custody as authorized by a seldom-used state law.